STOCKTON - In less than eight minutes, the Thunder went from having a chance to reset its series with Bakersfield to fighting for its postseason life.

After failing to beat Stockton goaltender Brian Foster for most of the game, the Condors came back with two third-period goals to beat the Thunder 2-1 Friday in the fourth game of the ECHL Western Conference semifinals at Stockton Arena. Joel Broda delivered the winner, a 55-foot slap shot with 1:39 left in regulation, and stunned the crowd of 3,808.

Stockton trails the best-of-seven series 3-1 and must win Game 5 at 7:30 p.m. today to avoid elimination.

Thunder coach Rich Kromm said his team will be ready.

"There's nothing worse than leaving things unfinished when we have an opportunity to do something about it," Kromm said. "Every time we've had some adversity, somebody has come up big. We just need that now."

For most of Game 4, it looked as though Foster and defenseman Marc Cantin would help give Stockton a series-tying win. Cantin gave the Thunder a 1-0 lead in the second period and Foster was outdueling Bakersfield goalie Laurent Brossoit.

But the Condors kept pressing, and Cantin took a holding penalty in the third that gave Bakersfield its fourth power play of the game. Jordan Knackstedt took advantage and tied the game with 7:51 left.

Broda's goal came when the Thunder left him alone just inside the blue line. He spun and flung the puck at the net, and it sailed past Foster.

"It's a game of mistakes, and they capitalized on that one," Kromm said. "The time was good for them and not so good for us."

Cantin's goal was the result of the Condors pressing in the Thunder zone. Cantin helped fend off the Bakersfield shooters and the Thunder went on a 3-on-1 break.

As he approached the Condors' net, Alan Quine sent a pass to Corey Trivino, who delivered the puck to Cantin for a quick wrist shot and a 1-0 lead with 9:50 remaining in the second period.

Stockton was not able to score again and couldn't make Cantin's goal stand up. Now it must win today.

"You play hockey for games like this," Cantin said. "Our backs are against the wall, but we have the team to do it."